INTRODUCTION

No Mission can be successful without the vital and vibrant missionaries - Rev.Samuel J. Innocent is a Pastor, Teacher and a missionary with zeal, hailing from Erode, Tamil nadu, South India.On account of his brilliant ability as an Engineer, he was sent abroad to work in the Gulf Country of Saudi Arabia. It was a very decent job for him as an engineer with good pay and all the riches of the Arab world, but he was not happy. Money and riches never meant anything to him .The Divine call in him was so strong, that he determined to dedicate his life completely to serve Christ in India, rather than to work in Saudi Arabia for a high salary. By the guidance of the Holy Sprit, he left Saudi Arabia and returned to India only to fulfill God's vision of establishing church Planting ministry in Erode. He started BETHANY FELLOWSHIP in 1983. Since 29th Oct'83. The name of the church "BETHANY FELLOWSHIP' was given to him by the Lord himself in answer to his prayer. He along with his son Rev.Jenson, had been visiting unreached villages and by the mercies of God preaching the Gospel to the poor villagers and bringing them in to salvation. Many have been delivered of witchcraft demon possession, diseases like Baby Polio and other serious types of illness. Many Hindu temple priests have left their profession to serve the Lord and Risen Christ, the true living God.

This part of the country in South India named 'Erode' is called as Erode District. It is a place where Christian population is small and forms the minority group. The evangelistic work with a zeal and burden for souls with a dedication and commitment is lacking. This place needs the angilished prayers of many as thousands are perishing without the knowledge of the Saviour and salvation.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF BETHANY FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
( In Partnership with Light House International Ministries (UK) )

I along with like minded Pastors formed this "Bethany Fellowship Ministry" as a charitable Trust in 1983,with the sole aim of Evangelizing India and 'Erode' in particular. The Bethany Fellowship Church has been conducting Sunday worships and prayer meetings and also distributing tracts and screening Jesus movies. Thus the Bethany Fellowship Church has brought many people  under the fold of Christianity though Evangelization.

Our Primary goal was to bring in Non-Christians to the Christian faith through Evangelical Ministry. We were instrument in bringing in a multitude of believers to the church fold. In the shortest period of all these years time, the strength of the church grew from mere six in 1983 to 2000 present strength. Further the Ministry is involved in the spiritual development of India with a special thrust of conversions and Evangelization. This Ministry hopes to carry the message of truth and compassion to mankind through the Word of God. This Ministry was started with the ambition of preaching the Gospel and working for the cause of the poor, who have been neglected a lot for a long time. For ages the poor were the first to embrace Christianity in India and even now it is the poor, who come forward to hear the Gospel and join the church in large numbers. To such poor people, the Bethany Fellowship is working to bring social justice and relief. Also the political as unsympathetic, but also side lines the oppressed and the downtrodden. Forced with the ambition of serving God, by serving the poor, along with our Ministry,In Partnership with light house International Ministry (uk).Team workers Rev Samuel J Innocent and Rev. Jenson Innocent started working for the cause of the poor, more vigorously than before. In spite of heavy financial constraints, all these years since 1983, through the Grace of God we were able to carry out our Mission successfully.